The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for…
“The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human rights are innate, written in nature by a divine hand, not confined to ancient documents, and cannot be erased by mortal authority.
In simple terms: Rights are natural, not dependent on old papers.
Defend rights as universal, not merely legal.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- legal debates
- human rights activism
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do societies protect innate rights?
- What role does spirituality play in law?
Rights can be contested politically.